The executive of the 1922 Committee have decided not to change its rules which prevent another vote of no confidence in Theresa May until December. But the chairman of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady will ask the Prime Minister to provide more clarity on the timetable for her departure in all circumstances. What this means is that May will be required to say more than just that she will go when the withdrawal agreement passes. She will need to set out when she will leave even if the withdrawal agreement does not pass, which right now seems the most likely scenario.
This is a compromise solution. It doesn’t provide an immediate mechanism for removing May, but it does make clear that the bulk of the parliamentary party would not be happy with her staying as party leader until December. Indeed, Brady made clear to Tory MPs tonight that he would keep the leader updated on how many MPs had sent letters to him saying that they had no confidence in her.
The question now is how will May respond to this request for clarity.
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